Chapter 44

“Wow! That’s awesome! Congratulations, I guess, and nice to meet you.”

“They’ll be staying here at the house for a few days,” Bob-Gunnar said.

“Oh, well then. We’ll see lots of each other.”

“I hope so,” Thumper drooled. I elbowed his rib cage ever-so-gently.

“Well, hopefully we’ll be invited to the wedding,” Bitsy pushed. “When is it?”

Why was she doing this? Bob-Gunnar and I looked at each other. “It’s this week—” he started to say.

“Next weekend.” I interrupted with feeling. “Remember?” We’ll be long gone by then, my eyes strove to remind him.

“Yes, yes of course.”

“Outside?” Bitsy asked.

“Well, yeah.”

“Excellent. I’ve been wanting a new hat. We’ll see you then, Foxy!” she called cheerfully, and half-dragged her son down the stairs and across the lawn.

“It was nice meeting you, Mikey,” Thumper hollered across the yard. With no audience to temper me, this second rib dig elicited a satisfying “Ow!”